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Advances in the Monitoring of Hazardous Metals in Urban Areas Using a High Resolution Continuous 

Ambient System

Douglas C. Barth M.S. Sc.Cooper Environmental Services

17th National Conference on Atmospheric Environmental Science and Technology 

Shanghai, China October 15‐18th, 2010

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Why Metals?

• Global concern of toxic metals – As, Cd, Cr, Pb, Hg, Ni, V, and Zn (Fang et al., 2010; Lippmann and Chin, 2009; Pope et al., 2009)

• Arsenic is one of U.S. EPA’s top three priority pollutants of concern

• Coal Fire Power Plants are the largest source of As, Se, Hg and Cr

• Metals persist in the environment once released

• Metals do not biodegrade

• Available for re‐introduction into the air, water and food chain

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Why Measure Metals in Real‐Time?

• Locate the sources of pollution within urban areas

• Decreased the cost of monitoring operations by automating the sampling and analysis method into one instrument 

• Increased understanding of the industries producing pollution and when they emit it into the air

• Uncover  periods of acute concentrations missed by current integrated samplers e.g. Hi Vol TSP and PM 10 FRM 

• Characterize back ground concentrations in urban areas to establish baseline levels

• Maximize productivity while maintaining healthy air quality 

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Xact 620 and 625 Ambient Metals Monitors

PM size-selective inlet

Temperature controlled 19 inch rack

Heater

Sampling & Analysis Module

Operator interface/control panel

Flow control module

Reports 23 elements per sampleAbout 180,000 results per year when monitoring every hour

ELEMENTS THE XACT CAN MEASURE (IN BLUE)

7

X-Ray Tube X-Ray Detector

Sample

s

s

x

x

CI

CI

= ss

xx C

IIC =

X-ray Fluorescence Calibration

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XACT METALS MONITOR SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS MODULE

XX--Ray Tube/DetectorRay Tube/Detector

Filter TapeFilter Tape

Aerosol DepositAerosol DepositSample FlowSample Flow

Analysis AreaAnalysis Area

Filter TapeFilter Tape Pd Rod

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Quality Assurance and Control

1. Every Sample• Pd Rod calibration error check• Pressure gauge leak check 

2. Daily Automatic QA• XRF calibration error check• Flow calibration check• Zero level check

NIST Traceable Thin Film Standards

3. Required Maintenance• 8 hours labor per month• 1 X‐ray tube per year• 1 roll of sample tape every two weeks

Xact vs  F RM L ead

y  = 1.0651x  + 15.451

R 2 = 0.9976

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000

F RM L ead  (ng /m3)

Xac

t Lea

d (ng/m

3)Herculaneum, MO

Lead Accuracy Linear Regression

N = 23NAAQS Analytical

Comparison Region

18-hour integrated filter with offline XRF, ng/m3

-5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30

18-h

our a

vera

ge X

act,

ng/m

3

-5

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

St. Louis, MOXact = 1.02 FRM + -0.1

Low Concentrations

Herculaneum, MOXact = 1.07 FRM + 15 High Concentrations

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X a c t 6 2 0 - B la ir S te e t , C ity o f S t . L o u isS e p te m b e r 2 0 0 8 - J a n u a ry 2 0 0 9

* * * U n v a lid a te d D a ta * * *

P M 1 0 c o n c e n t r a t io n , n g /m 3

0 1 0 0 2 0 0 3 0 0 4 0 0 5 0 0 6 0 0

perio

d-av

erag

e w

ind

dire

ctio

n (o N

)

0

4 5

9 0

1 3 5

1 8 0

2 2 5

2 7 0

3 1 5

3 6 0

1 - h o u r s a m p l in g p e r io d2 - h o u r s a m p l in g p e r io d

J a y T u r n e r , W a s h in g to n U n iv e r s i ty in S t . L o u is , F e b r u a r y 2 0 0 9

L E A D

ST. Louis, MO

Our Xact 620 in the St. Louis metro area has collected some interesting data as well. This plot shows the possibility that the Xact is detecting three distinct lead sources.

Wind Speed and Direction are Utilized to Determine Origin of Pollution

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Korea National Institute of Environmental Research Monitoring Sites

Operational20102011

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Thank you for your time

I would be happy to answer any questions

Douglas C. BarthDirector of Marketing and Sales

10180 SW Nimbus AveSuite J6

Portland, Oregon 97223PH: 503‐670‐9215Cell: 503‐680‐0291Fax: 503‐624‐2120

dcb@cooperenvironmental.comwww.cooperenvironmental.com